Container ejecting mechanism



July 28, 1959 w. E. CLARK EI'AL 0 CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM FiledApril 3, 1953 v I 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 MAL/5 E 62.46%,

dbl-IN BEALL, INVENTORS.

July 28, 1959 w. E. CLARK ETAL CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed April 5. 1953 CLA/ez IN V EN TORS.

int: ""9

mini

E. riomv E'- BEALL,

ATraeM -x w. E. CLARK EI'AL CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet3 ll V w ww B544 4 INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

M54415 LZAQK,

July as, 1959 Filed April' 3, 1953 July 28, 1 I w. E. CLARK EIALCONTAINER EJECTING MECHANI Filed April 3, 1953' 6 SheetsSheet 4lllillllllll.

WLL/S E CLARK, ck/0v E. BEALL,

INVENTORS.

July 28, 1959 w. E. CLARK ETAL 2,896,820

I I CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM 'Filed April 3, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet sINVENTORS. mLL/s E. CLARK, rIbH/v BEALL, By

ATTOQNE Z.

M 28, 1959 WWJRK Em 2,89 ,82

. CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM Filed April 5,1953 v 6 Shets-Sheet 6 stIbH/V BEALL,

g flay INVENTORS.

v BY

United States Patent 2,896,820 CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM Willis E.Clark, Los Angeles, and John E. Beall, Glendaie, Caiif.

Application April 3, 1953, Serial No. 346,762 11 Claims. (Cl. 221-410)This invention relates to improved apparatus forsuccessively deliveringcontainers to a predetermined location, typically in a coin operateddispensing machine which acts to eject and fill a box or other containerupon each operation. This application is a continuation-in-part of ourcopending application Serial Number 147,671, filed March 4, 1950 onDispensing Apparatus, now Patent No. 2,668,649, issued February 9, 1954,which shows a popcorn dispensing machine utilizing the present containerejecting mechanism.

A major object of the invention is to provide container ejectingmechanism which is adapted for very rapid operation, and yet functionsin a positive manner definitely assuring the delivery of one and onlyone container upon each operation. Particularly contemplated is acontainer ejector having the above characteristics, and whoseconstruction and mode of operation are such as to minimize thepossibilities of derangement in use.

structurally, the ejecting mechanism includes in combination a supportfor holding a supply of nested containers, typically popcorn boxes, andshifting means operable to engage an end one of the containers anddisplace it outwardly from its nested position. The mechanism preferablyalso includes additional shifting means which then act to displace theend container laterally of its first direction of movement and to adelivery location. For most eliective handling of the containers, thesupply of containers preferably takes the form of a vertical stack, fromwhich the top container is first moved upwardly out of its nestedposition and then ejected horizontally to the delivery location.

The first mentioned container shifting means desirably comprises agripping unit, which may have a pair of relatively movable jaws actingto positively grip and then displace outwardly the end or top containerof a supply of containers. The second shifting means may comprise merelya resiliently deformable element, such as a spring finger, which isresiliently deflectable by the initial outward movement of the endcontainer, and then acts to eject the container laterally to the desireddelivery location upon release of the container by the gripping unit.

Further features of the invention have to do with the provision of meansfor successively advancing the individual containers of a supply ofcontainers to a position for engagement by the ejecting means. When thecontainers are held in a vertical stack, the containers may be fed tothe ejecting means by progressively advancing the stack upwardly, as bypositioning the stack on an elevator and progressively moving the eleator upwardly. A stop element may then be provided for controlling theupward advancement of the stack, and preventing upward ejection of morethan one container at a time.

In order to assure eifective ejection of a container, we provide controlmeans operable to actuate the gripping unit or other shifting means, thestop element, and in some instances the elevator, in predetermined timedrelation. As will appear, the gripping unit may be actuable by anelectric motor, which also acts directly or indirectly to controloperation of the other parts of the device. The jaws of the grippingunit may be actuable by a control solenoid or by a mechanicalarrangement which functions in accordance with the vertical movements ofthe gripping unit as a whole.

ice

In most instances, we prefer to mount the container ejecting mechanismwithin a dispenser housing and at a location to eject a containerthrough an opening in the housing wall to a delivery location accessiblefrom the outside of the housing. In order to prevent tamperers from thenreaching into the ejecting mechanism through the container deliveryopening, we find it desirable to provide a door which acts to close thatopening except during delivery of a container. For retaining this doorin closed position, we may employ a lock, which is desirabllyautomatically operated by the container ejecting mechanism. Morespecifically, this lock may be controlled by the movement of the abovediscussed box gripping and shifting unit.

The above and further more specific features and objects of the presentinvention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompaningdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a presently preferred form of popcorndispenser, with the front wall partly broken away to reveal certain ofthe interior mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the dispenser taken on line22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the box ejectingmechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the elevator driving ratchetmechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary showing 'of the elevator drivingratchet as viewed from the right-hand side of chain 68 as it appears inFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred form of popcorn boxespecially designed for use .with the present dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the lower portion of the boxejecting mechanism in its normal condition;

Fig. 8 is a View corresponding to Fig. 7 but showing the apparatusduring its box ejecting movement;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of an upper portion 'of thebox ejecting mechanism and showing especially the means for actuatingthe stops for preventing upward movement of more than one box during anejecting operation;

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9 and showing the stops in theirreleased positions for'permitting elevation of the supply of boxes;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the upper portion ofthe box ejecting mechanism in its normal condition;

Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to Fig. 11 and showing the ejectingapparatus at the moment when an upper boX has been elevated from itsnested position within the stack of boxes and is being laterally ejectedto a corn delivery location.

Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken on line 19-19 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the box gripping unit,showing the unit in its active box holding position;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of the timer, motor and camsof the Figs. 16 to 22 mechanism; and

Fig. 22 is a circuit diagram of the Figs. 16 to 22 appara tus.

I Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the present popcorn dispensercomprises essentially a housing having an upper transparent dome 11, andcontaining a popcorn storage chamber 12, a collection chamber 13, ablower 14 for creating an upward flow of air to transfer popcorn fromthe storage chamber past transparent dome 11 and into the measuringchamber, a box ejecting mechanism 15 for individually feeding cartonsinto a supporting cage 16 beneath the collection chamber, a valve orsliding plate 17 for dispensing the corn from the measuring chamber intoan ejected box, and a coin responsive control 18.

Housing .10 is essentially rectangular in shape, and carries at itsfront a door 19 hinged along one side at 29 and adapted to be locked inclosed condition as by suitablekey controlled locks 21. Door 19containsa delivery opening 22 through which an operator may remove afilled box of corn from cage 16 after a coin has been inserted intomechanism 18 and the apparatus has completed a delivery cycle. Opening22 is normally closed by plastic door 23 which'is suitably guided fordownward sliding movement to an open condition in which the filled boxof corn may be removed. A bracket 24 extends downwardly from the loweredge of door 23 and is attached at its lower end to cord 25, whichextends upwardly about a pulley 26 and then downwardly to carry anactuating weight 27. This weight is cylindrical in shape and isvertically movable within a dash-pot cylinder 28 having a restricted airoutlet at 29. As will be understood, weight 27 normally tends to movedownwardly and to thus elevate door 23 to the closed condition of Figs.1 and 2. The door may be manually opened downwardly against the tendencyof weight 27 by handle projection 127 to permit removal of a filled boxof corn, after which the door automatically andslowly returns to itsclosed condition as permitted by the escape of air from cylinder 28through restricted opening 29.

At the sides of cage 16, the main housing door 19 carries a pair ofvertical walls 30, forming with the forward wall 31 of the main portionof the housing a closed-wall delivery recess at the rear of door 23.Grating 32 forms thebottom of this recess and permits downward passageof any spilled corn through tapering chute 33 into a removable wastecontainer 34 carried by thedoor.

.At the bottom of the housing, a relatively small compartment 35contains a pair of timers T1 and T2 for controling the operation of thedispenser. Coin control 18, which may be of any known type, is mountedto the door, and comprises an upper coin receiving slot 38, a suitableslug rejector 39, a coin return button and opening 140, and a coinactuated micro-switch 41 whose m0- mentary closing upon reception of acoin acts to initiate the sequence of operations which delivers a filledbox.

of corn into cage 16.

The top of the housing is closed by a cover 219 hinged to the rear ofthe housing at 220. The transparent elongated dome 11 extends betweenthe front and rear edges of this cover at a central location. The frontportion of the cover may be adapted to contain display popcorn at eitherside of dome 11, as at 221 in Fig. 1.

Storage chamber 12 extends vertically along the rear of the housing, andis essentially rectangular in horizontal section along most of itsvertical extent. The lower end of the storage chamber tapers at 42 to areduced opening 43 containing screen 44 through which blower 14 directsan upwardly moving stream of air. The blower, which is driven 'by anelectric motor 45, communicates with the bottom of the storage chamberthrough an angularly extending air inlet line 46. Electrical heaters 47,extending along the downwardly converging portion of the storagechamber, heat that corn in the bottom of the bottom of tube 48 with thebottom of the storage chamber, corn falls downwardly within the chamberbeneath tube 48 to be entrained and carried upwardly within the tube bythe stream of air from the blower. At the upper end of tube 48, thehousing carries a forwardly curving deflecting plate 49 adapted todirect the upward stream of air and entrained corn forwardly along the.

inside of transparent dome 11 to be viewed by an operator of. themachine and to then fall downwardly into measuring chamber 13. p 7

Measuring or collection chamber 13 extends verticallyv above box holdingcage 16 and is adapted to contain only a predetermined quantity of cornsuflicient to fill a single box and to overflow downwardly into thestorage chamber any corn received in excess of the predeterminedquantity. To facilitate such overflow of the corn, an inclined plate 51extends about the upper end of the measuring chamber to direct theexcess corn downwardly into the storage chamber. The collection chamberis normally closed at its bottom by a suitable sliding plate or valve 17adapted to be automatically opened by solenoid 53, which is mechanicallyconnected to the valve through pivotable levers 54 and 55 (see Fig. 1).

Referring now to Fig. 3, the box ejecting apparatus 15 comprisesessentially a pair of spaced vertically extending guides 56 and 57 forreceiving a vertical stack of nested boxes, an elevator 58 verticallymovable within guides 56 and 57 for supporting and vertically advancingthe stack of boxes, a box gripping member or arm 59 mounted for verticalmovement to carry an upper box from its nested position to an upperejection location, a pair of leaf springs 60 operable to eject theelevated box laterally from the ejection location to a delivery locationwithin cage 16, and a pair of stops 61 engageable at opposite sides witha second box to prevent its upward movement with the top box. The boxejecting mechanism is operated by a drive motor 62 which is energizedfor a timed period suflicient to drive shaft 162 through exactly onerevolution during each operation of the dispenser.

Channel shaped guides .56 and 57 are mounted to the housing inanysuitable manner, as bybrackets 63, and form together a verticallyextending elevator shaft adapted to contain and guide a vertical stackof boxes of the type shown in Fig. 6. Elevator 58 is rectangularand ofan external dimension-only slightly less than that of the box receivingshaft formed by the two guides to itself be accurately guided forverticalmovement (see Fig. 14). structurally, the elevator comprises abottom wall 64 and four side walls 65, the upper edge of each side wallbeing turned inwardly at 66-to form a reduced dimension upper openingthrough which the bottom container of a stackextends for engagement withthe bottom Wall 64. A pair of supporting-hooks 67 extend outwardly andthen upwardly from the front and rear sidesof the elevator for receptionwithin corresponding links of a pair of endless elevator drive chains68, mounted at the front and rear of box guide 56. At their lower ends,the two chains 68 extend about a pair of sprockets 69 rigidlyinterconnected for rotation together by a connecting shaft 70. At theirupper ends, the chains extend about apair of idler sprockets 71. Thechains 68 are advanced a predetermined distance corresponding to thelength of a single one of'their links upon each operation of themachine, tomove the elevator-upwardly a similar distance and to thussuccessively advance the individual boxes into the position of the upperbox in Fig. 11, from which position they are successively ejected. Thisadvancement 75. Coil spring 79, received about rod 77 at the front of.

frame member 75, acts against outer button 80 on the rod to normallyurge ratchet 72 into its chain engaging operative position of Fig. 5.Inward movement ofbutton 80 against the tendency of spring 79 acts torelease the driving engagement between ratchet 72 and chain 68 to.permit lowering of elevator 58 upon insertion into the apparatus of anew supply of boxes.

Ratchet 72 is vertically driven by rotation of motor 62 throughcam 81,carried by. the motor driven shaft 162, and lever assembly 82. Thislever assembly comprises a first lever arm 83 having a bifurcatedcircularly recessed end 183 movably received about an essentiallycylindrical projection 84 extending from the side of ratchet carryingarm 74 to transmit movement of arm 83 to the ratchet. Lever assembly 82also includes a second arm 85 adjustable relative to arm 83 by screw 86and engaging cam 81. Arms 83 and 85 are both pivotally mounted to anupstanding frame member 87 at 88, so that earn 81 effects a downwardchain advancing movement of ratchet 72 upon each rotation of motor 62.The cam is so designed that the advancement of the chain will raise theelevator 58 the exact distance necessary to move the next box intoposition for ejection. Spring 91 acts to normally urge the ratchetupwardly and to thus return the ratchet to its normal position of Figs.3 and 7 after each downward chain advancing movement.

Box 89 (see Fig. 6), especially designed for use with the presentdispensing apparatus, is formed of a single sheet of paper boardespecially cut and folded to present a pair of outwardly projecting lugs90 each spaced a predetermined distance from the upper edge of the box.As will be understood, when a series of boxes of this type are nestedone within the other, projections 90 maintain successive boxes in apredetermined relation such that the upper edges of successive boxes arespaced apart exactly the distance which the elevator is raised upon eachoperation of the dispensing machine. Consequently, each upward movementof the elevator advances the next successive top box into position forejection.

Upon each operation of the machine, box gripping arm 59 raises the nextsuccessive box in the stack upwardly from its nested position of Fig. 11to the ejection position of Fig'. 12, in which the box is released to belaterally deflected into cage 16 by leaf spring 60. Ann 59 has an upperportion 92 projecting horizontally across the top of the box receivingspace, integrally connected with a portion 93 extending downwardly atthe side of box guide 56. This downwardly extending portion of arm 59 issuitably guided for vertical movement by a pair of guiding blocks 94 and95 mounted to elevator guide 56. Member 59 is normally in its loweredbox gripping condition of Figs. 3 and 11 and is adapted to besuccessively elevated to the Fig. 12 position and then lowered onceduring each operation of the ma chine by the previously mentioned singlerotation of motor driven shaft 162. This drive iseffected by firsttransmitting the rotation of motor 62 into a vertical swinging movementof lever arm 96 about its stationary fulcrum end 97, through crank arm98 carried by the motor shaft and connecting arm 99 pivotally attachedto arm 96 at 100. The outer end of arm 96 is connected to the lower endof member 59 by an adjustable turnbuckle type connection '101, totransmit the vertical swinging movement of arm 96 to member 59. p

Member 59 is adapted to automatically grip and release the upper box ofa stack by relative movement between a first jaw 102, rigidly carried bythe horizontai portion of member 59 at its outer end, and asecondmovable jaw 103. To assure tight retention of the box by thesejaws, the inner opposed faces of the jaws may be serrated or toothed asshown. Movable jaw 103 is;

actuated between its closed box gripping position of Fig. 11 and itsopened box releasing positionof Fig. 12 by vertical swinging movement ofcontrol arm 104 about its point of attachment 105 to member 59. Eachswing-' ing movement of arm 104 is transmitted to the movable jawthrough a rod or wire 106, whose downward jaw closing movement islimited at the over centerposition of Fig. 11 by a suitable stop 107. Aswill be understood, movement of the jaw actuating mechanism to this overcenter position acts to lock the jaw in its closed position and assuretight retention of the upper edge of the box during the upward movementof the box to its Fig. l2position. The jaws are normally in the closedcondition of Fig. 11, so that energization of the drive motor 62immediately starts the elevation of the upper box to the ejectionposition of Fig. 12. Upon arrival at this upper position, arm 104engages the upper cross piece 108 of inverted U-shaped member 109, whichextends upwardly from angles 117 on guide 56, and such engagement withcross piece 108 acts to. prevent further upward movement of the engagedportion of arm 104 to thereby swing arm 104 to its jaw opening positionas member 59 continues upwardly a short distance to the broken lineposition of Fig. 12. The jaws are thus opened, and springs 60 are freeto laterally eject the box to its delivery location.

After such ejection of a box, motor 62 continues to rotate andconsequently moves member 59 downwardly to its original position. Uponarrival at its lowest position, jaw 103 is automatically closed totightly grip the upper edge of the next successive box in preparationfor the next operation of the machine. For this purpose, an actuatingrod 110 is guided by blocks 94 and for vertical movement alongside thevertically extending portion of member 59, and has at its upper end ashort horizontal portion 111 engageable with the underside of arm 104-to swing that arm to its jaw closing position. At its lower end, rod ispivotally connected at 112 to a lever element 113, which is pivoted tothe stationary guide 56 at 114 and which carries at its inner end anupwardly extending adjustable screw 115 engageable with an operating car116 on lever arm 96. Upon movement of member 59 and arm 96 downwardly totheir normal lowest positions, ear 116 on arm 96engages screw 115 topivot lever element, 113 about its fulcrum point 114 and in turn elevaterod 110 in a manner actuating arm 104 to its over center jaw closingposition.

The two box ejecting leaf springs 60 are rigidly mounted at their lowerends to angles 117 through screws 118,

and normally tend to return to the upwardly, and inwardly curvingpositions of Fig. 11. At its upper end, each spring forms a hook portion119 which limits upward movement of the box in the Fig. 12 ejectionposition. As a box ismoved upwardly between .the position of Fig. 11 andthe ejection position of Fig. 12, it resiliently deflects springs 60tothe full line position of Fig. 12. Upon automatic release of the jaws,springs 60 then tend to return to their normal position of Fig. 11(shown in broken lines in Fig. 12) to laterally and forcefully eject thebox into delivery cage 16'.

To prevent upward movement of more than one box with member 59, weprovide a pair of stops 61 engageable with the top edges of the secondbox in a stack and preventing its upward movement. These stops arenormally in their inner active positions of Fig. 9, and

are automatically moved outwardly to their inactive posi horizontally,and is mounted 'for swinging movement about the axis of its-horizontallyextending portion by a bearing-120 attachedto guide 56. At the side ofguide 56, stop carrying body 121 forms a crank throw 121a, which isconnected through link 124 to an actuating arm 122 pivoted at 123 to thestationary box guide. A stop 125 limits the swinging movement of eachcrank throw 121a to determine'the inner box engaging position o fthe.corresponding movable stop 61. The two actuating arms 122 are normallyurged together by an interconnecting spring 126 to retain the twomovable stops in theirinner positions. Upon upward movement of member59, a lug 127 carried by the depending portion 93 of that member engagesthe inner surface of arms 122 to simultaneously actuate those arms in amanner releasing stops 61. While these stops are released, the elevatoris automatically moved upwardly by the previously described camcontrolled mechanism to move the next successive box into position forlateral ejection.

Referring now to Fig. 15, current is supplied to the apparatus through apair of supply lines 128 and 129, which lead to heaters 47 through line130, thermostatic controls 131 and line 132. Line 128 connects with eachof the control timers T1 and T2, and line 129 leads to these timersthrough a coin control switch 134' and a holding coil 135, which isoperable to close a circuit about switch 134 by actuation of switch 136.The box ejector motor 62 and the pump motor 45 are connected in parallelthrough lines 234 to timer T1, which energizes these motors for apredetermined timed period after initial closing of the circuit by coincontrolled actuation of microswitch 134. Timer T2, which is preferablyof known electronic type, acts to automatically energize corn dispensingsolenoid 53 through lines'235 after T1 has deenergized the blower andbox ejector, and'retains the solenoid in its dispensing valve actuatingposition for a predetermined period suflicient to completely dispensethe contents of the measuring chamber before permitting it to againclose.

In using the illustrated dispensing machine, popped corn is first placedin storage chamber 12, and a stack of nested boxes of the type shown inFig. 6'are placed. on elevator 58 between vertical stationary guides 56and 57 of the box ejecting mechanism. Downward move ment of theelevator, during such insertion of the boxes, is permitted by releasinglatch 72 through inward movement of button 80, as previously described."Electrical supply lines128 and 129 are then connected to a suitablesource of electrical energy, typically a 110 volt alte nating currentsupply.

An operator inserts a coin into slot 38; and the coin in passingdownwardly within the coin control mechanism momentarily actuatesmicroswitch 134 to close the circuits to both timers T1 and T2. Suchmomentary closing of this circuit also energizes holding coil 135 toclose switch 136 and maintain the electrical supply circuit closed evenafter the opening of microswitch 134. Immediately upon the closing ofthe coin controlled circuit, timer T1 simultaneously energizes boxejecting motor 62 and blower motor 45. The blower then creates an upwardflow of air entraining a' quantity of corn from the storage chamber,through tube 43, against deflecting plate 49, along the inside oftransparent dome 11 within the sight of an operator, and downwardly intomeasuring chamber 13. Any excess corn transferred by this stream of airoverflows downwardly into the storage chamber. The period of actuationof the blower is predetermined and of sufiicient length to overfill themeasuring chamber, thus assuring the delivery of afull measure of cornto the operator.

The circuit to motor 62 of the box'ejecting mechanism is closed foraperiod sufjcient torotate the motor driven shaft through exactly onerevolution, to thereby eject asingle box into cage-16. Reviewingbriefiythe manner of operation of the box ejecting mechanism,

.edge of the topbox in the stack, and stops 61 normally preventupwardmovement' ot the second box in the stack. As motor62=then rotatesfrom the normal posi tion of Fig. 7,-- arm 96-is swung-upwardly by crankarm 98 and connecting arm 99 to'move member 5911pwardly andvcarry thetop box inthe stack to the position ofFig. 12. Upon arrival' at theposition of Fig. 12, arm 1041s swung downwardly relative tomember 59 byengagement with cross-piece 108 of member 109 to release the box fromthe grippingjaws. Member 59 then continues its upward movement and thebox is laterally deflected into cage 16 by the tension of leaf springs61 Continuedopefation of the motor swings arm 96 down wardly to movemember 59 back to its position of Fig. 11, the jaws being tightly closedabout the next successive upper boxby upward movement of rod 110 uponarrival of member 59 at its lowermost position. 7

While member 59 isin the upper part ofits travel, stops 61 are outwardlydeflected by engagement of lug 127 with the inner surfaces of lever arms122. During the period that these stops are thus outwardly deflected.

cam 81 acts to pivot lever element 82 about its fulcrum point 88 tolower ratchet element 72 a distance suflicient to advance chains 68 thelength of one of their links. Such movement of the chains raises theelevator a predetermined distance corresponding to the distance betweenthe upper edges of successive boxes in-the stack, as determined by thepositioning of box lugs 99. Such upward movement of the elevatoradvances the next successive box to the position of the top box in Fig.11 in preparation for its ejection on the next operation of the machine.As member 59 returns to itslower position, lug 127 moves away from itsengagement with arms 122 to permit return of stops 61 back to theiractive positions.

Timer T1 automatically deenergizes motor 62 and motor 35 after theformer has rotated shaft 162 through one complete revolution and afterthe latter hastransferred enough cornto overfill measuingchamber 13.TimerTZ then energizes 1 solenoid -53. to release the measured corn fromchamber 13 downwardly into the box which has been ejected into cage-16QThe operator may then open plastic door 23 to remove the filled box ofcorn.

Figs. 16 to 22 illustrate a variational form of box ejecting apparatus140 which is similar in many respects to that already discussed, and isto beconsideredas forming a part of a popcorn dispensing machinecorresponding to that of Figs. lto 15, except-asto theditferencesspecifically illustrated.- The box ejectingmechanisrn 149 includes avertically movable box carrying elevator 141, positioned within a boxand elevator guide unit compn's- ..ing a pair of vertically extendingguides 142 and 143.

The latter of these guides (143) has-a main portionextending verticallyalong the left side of the elevator re cess, and has turned portions143b and 143a extending along the frontand rear sides of the elevatorrecess. The

front portion 1431b of guide 143 extends along only the very uppermostportion of the box and'elevator recess, with a door 144 being providedbeneath portion 143b'of the guide and at-the front side of the boxes.Door 144 is hinged to guide member 143 at 145, and is releasablyretainable by a detent'element 146 is a closed position of extensionpartiallyacross the forward side of the box recess.- As will beunderstood, door 144 may be swung to an open position when desired topermit'access to the box recess through its open forward side, forfilling a supply of nested boxes 147 into position on the elevator 141.As for the construction of the boxes 147, they are formed in essentiallythe same manner as the boxes- 89 previously described, except that theydo not have positioning. tabs'corresponding to those shown'at on theboxes-89. i

Elevator 141 has at its front and rear sides a pair of upwardlyprojecting lugs 148, to which are attached a pair of flexible cords 149by which the elevator is suspended. Cords 149 extend upwardly aboutindividual pairs of pulleys 149a and 150, which may be rotatably carriedby a pair of stationary supports 151 carried by the housing of thedispenser. After passage about pulleys 150, cords 149 extend downwardlyfor connection to a counterweight assembly generally indicated at 152 inFig. 19. This counterweight assembly acts to continuously urge elevator141 and its carried boxes 147 up.- wardly, to successively feed theboxes to the later to be described ejecting parts. When elevator 141reaches its uppermost position, in which all of the carried boxes havebeen ejected, a lug 205 carried by the elevator engages and actuates anelectric switch 206, which acts to break one electric circuit and closeanother circuit, to place the the dispenser in a sold ou condition, aswill be brought out in greater detail in discussing the Fig. 22 circuitdiagram.

Counterweight assembly 152 includes a vertically extending hollow sheetmetal housing 153, typically rectangular in horizontal section. Thishousing is stationarily mounted to the main housing of the dispenser(not shown) and may carry upper pulley mounting members 151 through apair of upstanding supports 154. Housing 153 contains a series ofvertically spaced counterweights 155, 156, 157, and 158, whichsequentially become ineffective upon progressive upward movement ofelevator 141, to reduce the upward force exerted on the elevator as thenumber of boxes carried by the elevator decreases. The two counterweightsupporting lines 149 extend downwardly through openings 159 in the threeuppermost counterweights 156, 157 and158, being movable within theseopenings, and connect at their lower ends to the lowest counterweight155. Each of the four counterweights has a greater weight and horizontallength than the next lower counterweight, so that the upper threecounterweights 156, 157 and 158 are individually supportable onhorizontal shoulders 160, 161 and 162 respectively of a pair of steppedsupport elements 163. The upper three counterweights are guided forvertical movement by a pair of spaced vertically extending essentiallyrigid guide rods 164, which pass through guide openings 165 in thecounterweights.

It will of course be understood that when elevator 141 is in itslowermost position, the bottom counterweight 155 is elevated to a heightat which all of the upper counterweights 156, 157 and 158 are raised offof their supporting shoulders, and thus the entire combined weight ofthe four counterweights is effective in urging the elevator and itscarried boxes upwardly. After elevator 141 is moved upwardly a certaindistance, and the number of boxes on the elevator has decreased, thecounterweights lower to a position in which the upper counterweight 158rises on its supporting shoulders 162, and thus is no longer effectivein urging the elevator upwardly. Similarly, as the elevator risesfurther, the next counterweights 157 and then 156 sequentially becomeinelfective, until only the lowest and lightest weight 155 is urging theelevator and its few remaining boxes upwardly.

As in the first form of the invention, the ejecting mechanism of Figs.16 to 22 includes a gripping unit generally indicated at 166, which actsupon each operation of the dispenser to grip and lift upwardly the topone of the boxes 147. This gripping unit includes an elongated rigid bar167 which extends and is movable vertically along the central portion ofthe left side of box guide member 143. Bar 167 is guided for itsvertical sliding movement by two or more vertically spaced metal straps168, which are attached to member 143. The upper portion of bar 167 isturned horizontally at 168a to extend across the top of the upper box147, and terminates in a downwardly turned portion forming a boxgripping claw 169. A second claw 170 is positioned opposite claw 169 andis mounted for movement toward and away from that claw for tightlygripping an upper edge portion of the top box 147. These two claws 169and 170 may have lower flared portions 171, forming together adownwardly diverging throat for receiving the top boxes as the two clawsmove downwardly into a box gripping position.- Cla'w 170 preferably hasa sharpened projection 172 extending toward the other claw, to assureproper retention of the box edge.

The movable claw 17 0 extends upwardly from its lower box engagingportion, and is then turned horizontally at 173, for connection to themovable armature 174 of an actuating solenoid 175. The solenoid coil isattached by screws 176 to the upper side of horizontal portion 168 ofmember 167 and when energized acts to draw jaw 170 to the left as seenin Fig. 17, to grip the upper edge of the top box. Upon deenergizationof solenoid 175, a spring 177 urges jaw 170 back to its releasedposition of Fig. 17. Jaw 170 may 'be guided for its opening and closingmovement by a pin 178, carried by horizontal portion 168a of member 167.This pin typically has a reduced dimension portion 179, which passesthrough a slot 180 in the horizontal portion 173 of the jaw element 170.As will be understood, slot 180 is elongated in a direction extendingfrom left to right as seen in Figs. 17 and 20, to :guide the movable jawfor movement only in that direction. 4

The gripping unit is vertically actuated by an electric motor 181 (seeFig. 21), through a speed reduction gear unit 231, a shaft 198 driven ata relatively slow rate by the reduction gear unit, a crank 182, a link183 and a lever 184, the last of which pivotally connects at 185 to thelower end of bar167. One end of lever 1184 is pivotally attached at 186:to a stationary support 187, which is suitably carried by the dispenserhousing. As in the first form of the invention, rotation of electricmotor 181 acts to effect vertical reciprocation of rod 167 and the otherparts of the box gripping unit. In addition to the crank element 182,shaft 198 of motor 181 carries three cams 199, 200 and 201, whichactuate electricswitches 202, 203 and 204 whose purpose in controllingthe operation of the dispenser will be brought out at a later point.

Upward movement of the gripping unit, with claw 170 in its activeposition, raises the top box 147 from its nested position within the boxstack. At the same time the upward box movement laterally deflects apair of spaced leaf springs 188, which act to later-ally eject the boxto the corn delivery location when solenoid 175 is deenergized torelease claw 170.

As the top box is thus being raised and laterally ejected, the otherboxes are retained against upward movement by a pair of stop elements189, whose horizontally turned portions are movable into and out of theupward path of the boxes.

These stop elements are mounted for swinging movement into the box pathby horizontally extending shafts 190, which are journalled withinbearings 191. These bearings are fastened to the opposite side portions1413b and 1430 of box guide member 143. Stop element shafts 190 extendupwardly at a location to the left of bearings 191, and then turnhorizontally at 192 for engagement by a horizontal actuating member 193.A longitudinally tensioned coil spring 194 extends between and isconnected at its opposite ends to the upwardly extending portions ofstop element shaft 190, to yieldingly urge the stop elements into theiractive box retaining positions. For deflecting the stop elementsoutwardly to their box releasing Fig. 18 positions, actuating member 193has at its opposite ends a pair of inclined downwardly facing Wedgesurfaces 195, which are engageable with and act to cam outwardly thehorizontal portions 192 of shaft 190. Actuatin-g member 193 is suitablyattached to the upper end of vertically reciprocable bar 11 17. Uponsuch release of thestop elements, the previously retained upper box isfreed by the stop'elements for a limitedupward movement'to the point atwhich the top box is shown in Fig. 17. Upward movement of the boxes islimited at this point by engagement of the top box with the horizontallyturned portion of bar 167 at 197. The solenoid 175 may then be actuateduponfthe next actuation of the device, to grip the upper edge ofthe topbox and raise that box upwardly, the initial upward movement of thegripping unit acting to release the stop elements for movement intotheir active positions for retaining the next successive box againstelevation.

When the dispenser of Figs. 16 through 22is inoperating condition, withits front door 207 closed, the only possibility of access to any part ofthe box ejector mechanism from the outside of the housing is along thepath followed by a box from the ejector to the delivery location. Inuse, it has been found that tamperers sometimes reach into the dispenseralong this rather circuitous path, and by tampering with the Workingparts may place the ejector mechanism in an inoperative condition. Forthis purpose, we prefer to provide a door 208, which is hinged along itsupper edge 209 to the dispenser housing, and acts, except duringejection of a box, to close off communication to the delivery recess 210and the portion of the housing containing the box ejector mechanism.This door 208 is preferably of rectangular configuration, and isdeflectible to and beyond its broken line position of Fig. 17 by a boxas the box is ejected laterally by spring fingers 188 to cage 211 in thedelivery recess.

Door 208 may be considered as closing an essentially rectangular openingextending through the housing walls from the delivery recess 210 to theinterior of the housing. This opening is defined at its front and rearsides by door 207 of the housing and a wall 212 extending parallel todoor 207 and across the rear of the delivery recess. The upper edge ofthe box passing opening is defined by an upper transverse wall 213,While the lower edge of the opening is defined by cage 211 and the upperedge of a Wall 214 forming one side of the delivery recess.

In order to positively retain swinging door 208 in its closed full lineposition of Fig. 16 when the dispenser is not in operation, we attach tothe previously described vertically movable box gripping unit a latchmember 215, which engages and locks door 208 when the gripping unit isin its lowered position. Latch member 215 may comprise a sheet metalelement attached rigidly to the upper side of solenoid 175, and havingan outer end turned downwardly for movement into latching relation witha lower hooked edge 216 of door 208. Preferably, hooked edge 216 of thedoor is curved as shown to present a curved lateral surface which willnot interfere with the movement of a box from the ejector mechanism intothe delivery recess.

In addition to the electrical parts already discussed in connection withthe second form of the invention, the circuit diagram of Fig. 22includes several additional electrical units. These other electric partsinclude a control relay 217, a blower motor 218 corresponding to thatshown at 45 in Fig. 1, a dispensing valve actuating solenoid 222corresponding to that shown at 53 in Fig. 1, a light 223 forilluminating the interior of the housing, an indicator lamp 224 forindicating a sold out condition of the dispenser, a coin operated switch225 into which a coin is inserted through chute 226, a coin blocksolenoid 227, corn heater strips 228, and a heater controllingthermostat 229.

Describing now the operation of the apparatus, insertion of a cointhrough chute 226 closes switch 225, which acts to close an energizingcircuit from power supply lines 230 to control relay 217. This relay isthus energized, to close its movable contact 231, which acts among otherthings to close an energizing circuit to motor 18-1. The motor commencesto rotate its shaft 198 and three cams 199, 200 and 201 at apredetermined relatively 12 slow rate, and at the :same time commencesto mechanicallya'ctuate the box gripping unit upwardly.

The initial rotation "of cam 1-99 by motor 181 actuates the contacts 202to a circuit'closing position, to close a second and holding circuitthrough control relay 217. This holding circuit is maintained closedthrough a complete evolution of cam driven shaft 198, and is thenautomatically broken, to 'deenergize relay 217 and motor 181. For thispurpose, a movable one of the contacts 202 may havea cam followingprojection 232 which is received within a notch 233 in the outer surfaceof cam 199. The initial movement of cam 199 then displaces projection232 from notch 233, to close contacts 202 and maintain them-closed untila complete rotation of cam 199 permits projection 232 to again fall intothe notch.

The second of the cams 200 actsto control the ener gization of blowermotor 218- and box gripping solenoid 175. This cam has a circularlyextended increased diameterportion 333, which maintains contacts203'closed in the ,positionin which projection 232 is received withinnotch 233 of cam 199. This portion 333 of cam 200 is of a circularextent to maintain contacts 203 closed during approximately the firsthalf of a revolution of shaft 198. As will be understood, energizationof control relay 217 by-closure of coin switch 225 closes energizingcircuits through contacts 203 to blower motor 218 and box grippingsolenoid 175. Thus, the blower driven by motor 218 commences immediatelyto deliver corn by air entrainment to the collection chamber, andsolenoid 175 causes claw 170 to grip a top box of the supply stack. Withthe top box thus .gripped, upward actuation of the gripping unit bymotor 181 acts to raise the top box. from its nested position within theother boxes.

Cam 200 is so designed as to allow opening movement of contacts 203 atexactly the instant when the gripping unit and top box have reached theuppermost extent of their travel. Such opening of contacts 203 stops theblower motor and deenergi'zes solenoid to release the box gripped byjaws 169 and 170, and permit lateral ejection of the box by springfingers 188 to the delivery location. As the box moves towards thedelivery location, it laterally deflects door 208 as previously brought0111.

After ejection of the boxto its delivery location, and as the grippingunit is moved downwardly, the third cam 201 acts to close contacts 204,which closes an energizing circuit to delivery solenoid 222. Thissolenoid then actuates a cam dispensing valve corresponding to thatshown at 17 in Fig. 2, maintaining the valve open for a periodsufiicientto assure dispensing of all of the corn to the ejected box.Following this dispensing operation, contacts 201 open, and cam 199reaches a position in which projection 232 falls back into notch 233, todeenergize control relays 217, stop motor 181, and thus terminate asingle operation of the dispenser.

The sold out switch 206 is normally in its full line position of Fig.22, in which is closes a circuit to coin block solenoid 227. Thissolenoid when energized retains a coin blocking element 228 out of thepath of the coin movement into chute 226. When all of the boxes havebeen sold, actuation of switch 206 to its broken line position of Fig.22 breaks the circuit to solenoid 227, and frees coin blocking element228 for move ment under the influence of spring 236 into its broken lineposition in which it prevents the insertion of further nestedcontainers, means for progressively advancing said elevator upwardly, astop element movable into and out of the upward path of a top one ofsaid containers, a gripping unit including relatively movable jawsadapted to engage and grip a top one of said containers and movablevertically to raise the gripped container upwardly from its nestedposition, means for moving said gripping unit vertically, first controlmeans operable to relatively actuate said jaws in timed relation to thevertical movement thereof to pick up said top container in a lowerposition of the jaws and release it in an elevated position, an upwardlyextending spring laterally deflectable by said upward movement of thetop container and acting to laterally eject the container to a fillinglocation upon its release by said gripping jaws, and second controlmeans operable to actuate said stop element out of the path of said topcontainer While the gripping unit is in a lower portion of its travel torelease said top container for upward movement.

2. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 1 including avertically extending guide disposed about said elevator and thecontainers carried thereby, an elongated member extending and movingvertically alongside said guide and having a portion turned generallyhorizontally across the upper ends of said containers and guide andcarrying said gripping jaws.

3. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which saidfirst control means comprises a jaw actuating solenoid carried by saidhorizontally turned portion of said elongated member, 'and a timerenergizing said solenoid in predetermined timed relation to the upwardmovement of said elongated member.

4. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which saidmeans for moving the gripping unit vertically comprises an electricmotor and mechanism driven by said motor for vertically reciprocatingsaid elongated member, said first control means comprising a jawactuating solenoid carried by said horizontally turned portion of saidelongated member, and timer means driven by said motor controlling theenergization of said solenoid, said second control means comprisinginterengageable means carried by said elongated member and said stop andacting to deflect the stop out of the path of the top container uponarrival of the elongated member at a lower portion of its travel.

5. Container handling apparatus comprising a housing, means forming aholder for receiving and supporting a container at a delivery locationaccessible from the outside of the housing, means for holding a supplyof containers at the inside of said housing, container ejectingmechanism operable to eject one of said containers from said supplythereof through an opening in the housing Wall to said deliverylocation, and a door for closing said opening in the housing wall andmounted for opening movement to pass the container, said door beingpositioned and constructed to be deflected to an open condition by acontainer ejected through said opening by said mechanism, and saidmechanism being constructed to eject said container with suflicientforce to efiect said opening of the door thereby, there being a lockadapted to releasably retain said door in a closed position, saidapparatus including control means actuating said lock in predeterminedtimed relation to said container ejecting mechanism to maintain the doorlocked when said container ejecting mechanism is not in operation.

6. Container handling apparatus comprising a support for receiving andholding a container at a filling location, means for holding a supply ofnested containers near said location, shifting means operable to engagean end container of a supply held by said last mentioned means anddisplace it outwardly in a predetermined direction from its nestedposition, and additional shifting means engageable and resilientlydeformable by said container as a result of said movement thereof insaid predetermined direction and acting after said movement, and byvirtue of energy stored in said additional means by said resilientdeformation, to displace said end 14 container laterally from said firstshifting means and toward said support.

7. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which saidadditional shifting means comprise a leaf spring extending into the pathof movement of said end box in said direction to be progressivelydeflected laterally thereby, and adapted to eifect said lateraldisplacement of the container by return from said deflected position.

8. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which saidfirst shifting means comprise a gripping unit including a pair ofrelatively movable jaws operable to engage and grip said end containerand movable in said predetermined direction with the container.

.9. Container handling apparatus comprising a housing, means forming aholder for receiving and supporting a container at a delivery locationaccessible from the outside of the housing, means for holding a supplyof containers at the inside of said housing, a gripping unit operable toengage and grip an upper one of said containers and movable upwardly toraise the container to an ejection location, means operable to ejectsaid container laterally from said ejection location and through anopening inthe housing Wall to said delivery location, a door for closingsaid opening in the housing wall and mounted for opening movement topass the container, a latch element carried by said gripping unit, and amating element on said door engageable by said latch element to retainthe door closed when the gripping unit is in a normal lowered position.

10. Container handling apparatus comprising a support for receiving andholding a container at a filling location, an elevator for holding avertical stack of nested containers and mounted for vertical movement,first shifting means operable to engage a top container of said stackand displace it upwardly from its nested position, additional shiftingmeans then movable laterally and acting to displace said top containerlaterally to said support at the filling location, and means operable toprogressively advance said elevator upwardly to successively feed saidcontainers to said first shifting means, there being a stop movable intoand out of the path of upward movement of said containers to maintainthe stack against upward movement with said top container, and controlmeans for actuating said stop in predetermined timed relation to theupward movement of said first shifting means.

11. Container handling apparatus comprising a support for receiving andholding a container at a filling location, an elevator for holding avertical stack of nested containers and mounted for vertical movement,first shifting means operable to engage a top container of said stackand displace it upwardly from its nested position, additional shiftingmeans then movable laterally and acting to displace said top containerlaterally to said support at the filling location, and means operable toprogressively advance said elevator upwardly to successively reed saidcontainers to said first shifting means, said first shifting meanscomprising an upwardly movable gripping unit including relativelymovable jaws operable to engage and grip an upper edge of said topcontainer, and control means operable to relatively actuate said jaws inpredetermined timed relation to the vertical movement of said grippingunit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,035,348 Jannell Aug. 13, 1912 1,095,319 Erwin May 5, 1914 1,495,049Walters May 20, 1924 1,690,920 Bergmann Nov. 6, 1928 1,754,271 HendersonApr. 15, 1930 2,001,110 Rabkin May 14, 1935 2,370,276 Warren Feb. 27,1945 2,413,446 Glassner Dec. 31, 1946.

